Stop Russia from making it illegal to even talk about homosexuality

I just added my voice to this urgent appeal, standing for human rights in Russia and all over the world. Medvedev and Putin’s party is pushing a law to vote this week that would make any mention of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender issues illegal. Will you take one minute to add yours?

The bill, being introduced as early as this Wednesday, would criminalize any book, article or speech about sexual identity and gender orientation, labeling it “homosexual propaganda”. This is outrageous, and now is the time for key world leaders to speak up, we need every voice.

This is not just about defending gay rights but defending fundamental human rights – the right to freedom, to free speech, to democracy.
Just when we think that the world is making progress on LGBTU+ issues, a supposedly ‘developed’ country slaps us all round the face with a decision like this.

Political leaders in St. Petersburg are about to vote on law that will make it illegal for any person to write a book, publish an article or speak in public about being gay, lesbian or transgender. The ruling party led by President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin could make millions of people invisible with the stroke of a pen.

Human rights defenders around the country are doing everything they can to stop it. They are risking their freedom to organize flashmobs and protests, but they are afraid that it won’t be enough. Courageous pride marchers were brutally attacked and detained by Moscow police last summer – for the simple act of holding their heads up high in public. If this bill passes, even the small victories that the LGBT movement in Russia has won will be wiped out – and pride marches, cultural festivals, and even the distribution of leaflets in the streets will be considered illegal.

Right now, the world needs to speak up and tell Russian authorities to drop the bill. Join this call to leaders around the world to reach out to their counterparts in the Russian government – and ask them to reject this discriminatory and anti-democratic law.

Sign the petition. It’s truly fundamental. For the freedom of Russians, of your fellow community, and yourself.